Patent 8193469 was granted and assigned to Coorstek, Inc. on June, 2012 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Ceramic igniters are provided that comprise at least three zones of differing electrical resistance, preferably in sequence a first conductive zone of relatively low resistance, a power booster or enhancement zone of intermediate resistance, and a further hot or ignition zone of high resistance. Igniters of the invention can provide extremely high speeds (low time-to-temperature).